Tobacco-curing device



Jwwml w .ZJYKbonce *4 v 6.M.Mallison- WM ffi Z T KOONCE ET AL TOBACCO CURING DEVICE Flled Feb 1, 1927 May 15, 1928.

W C o duct/my Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,670,263 PATENT OFFICE.

ZACHABY T. KOONCE AND SAMUEL I. MALLISON, WASHINGTON, N ORTH CAROLINA. I

TOBACCO-CURIN G DEVICE.

- Application filed February This invention relates to improvements in apparatus used for the curing or drying of tobacco in barns and similar dryingstructures, the invention having for an ob ect to provide a novel form of means for mainta nin" a thorough, uniform and continuous circulation of air by and over the usual furnace and the heat distributing fines leading therefrom, thus effecting the heating of such air and causing it to be evenly distributed to all parts 0 the dryingstr'ncture interior whereby. to expedite an eliicient curing of the tobacco.

It is also amongst the prime desiderata of the invention to provide a device of the character mentioned, which when applied to a drying furnace and its fines, will function to positively radiate a materially greater current of uniformly heated air to all parts of go the interior of the drying structure, thus effecting a marked economy in fuel consumption and at the same time, ensure an even and highly efiicient curing of the tobacco therein.

u Yet another object of the invention is to provide an air heating and distributin device wherein a constant circulation of shly intaken air will be passed into contact with the adjacent surfaces of equipped heating means and such air thereby heated and evenly discharged into the tobacco containing area of the drying structure, following which, with cooling of the air, the same will be re-taken into the device, reheated and u then redischarged.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, we have in the accompanying illustrative dra and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of our invention.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a horizontal section through a barn or other tobacco curing or drying structure wherein a drying furnace together with various heated air distributing fines is equipped with the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail in elevation illustratin the arrangement of a portion of the air 'stributing hood over a drymg furnace and one of the flues thereof,

igure 3 is a detail in vertical transverse 1, 1927. Serial No. 165,213.

invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with that form of drying apparatus ordinarily used in a tobacco drying or curing burn or other structure generally designated by the numeral 1, such structure being equipped with chimneys or discharge flues 2 having downwardly disposed portions communicating with the interior of the drying structure. Within this drying structure and upon the floor thereof is ar ranged a drying or heating furnace indicated in its entirety by the numeral 3 having a main heated air discharging flue communicating with a portion of the air heating chamber thereof and designated by the numeral 4, this fine extending, usually, rearwardly of the drying structure to a point whereat it communicates with oppositely disposed branch fines 3 arranged upon the flooring or adjacent the 'flooring of the drying structure 1 and being extended about the interior thereof in the manner as is shown in the Figure 1; branches 5 being connected to certain of the extremities of said branch flues 3 and to the chimneys 2 of the drying structure 1. Through the medium of this construction, air heated within the furnace 3 will be discharged into the flue 4 and thence, will be distributed through the branch flues 3 and 5, whereby to efi'ect the heating of the interior of the dryin structure to a degree sufiicient to effect t e drying or curing of tobacco within such structure.

With a view toward providing these fines 3, 4 and 5 with means for eflectmg an even heating of the air coming into contact therewith, together with an even and unifor'm distribution of such heated air throughout the interior of the tobacco containing area of the drying structure, we provide a lurality of sectional hoods generally in icated for convenience by the numeral 6, such hoods being formed, preferably, of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, galvanized sheet steel etc.; these sheets being bent or curved upon themselves whereby to provide hoods of the general cross sectional configuration as is shown in the Figure 4. To support these hoods (3 in proper position with respect to the fines and branch fines, 3, 4 and 5, a plurality of substantially inverted U-shaped supporting legs or brackets 7 are provided, the extremities thereof being formed with laterally disposed sheets 8 for an obvious purpose. The intermediate portions of the supporting legs or brackets 7 are disposed transversely over portions of the various hood sections 6 and are joined thereto by welding, soldering or other process common in the art. l urthermorc, it will be noted that the widths of the material forming the hoods (3 are such that the opposite side portions of the same terminate at points in vertical spaced relation with respect to the lateral feet 8 upon the supporting legs or brackets 7 and by consequence, air intaking ways are provided for the hoods, so that fresh air will be caused to pass therethrough into the area within the hood sections 6 and into contact with and over the adjacent heated surfaces of the particular flue or flue branch 3, t or 5, housed thereby. Furthermore, it is to be noted in this connection, that the arrangement of the hoods 6 upon their respective supporting legs or brackets 7 is such that the entire area of said hoods will be maintained in spaced relation from the particular flue sections housed thereby. Consequently upon this, air receiving and circulating ways will be provided completely over and about the flue sections and therefore, by reason of this positive and thorough circulation of air over the heated surfaces of the furnace flues, an even and uniform heating thereof will be insured.

That the air introduced into the interior of the hood sections 6 may be discharged therefrom when heated by contact with the heated surfaces of the flue sections, air discharge ways or perforations 9 are formed in the upper or top portion of the various hood sections 6 and as will be appreciated, will permit of an even and uniform discharge of heated air therefrom into the interior of an equipped drying structure.

It is also desirable that the heating or dryingfurnace within the drying structure 1 be equipped with an air circulating and discharging means and to this end, we provide the said furnace 3 with a hood formed of suitable sheet metal, designated in its entirety by the numeral 10, said hood being of a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the upper portion of the furnace 3 and enveloping the same as is indicated in the Figure 3. To support the hood 10 in proper position with respect to the furnace 3, a desired number of substantially inverted U-shaped supporting legs or brackets 11 having laterally disposed feet 12 upon their extremities are provided. These supporting legs einbracingly engage adjacent transverse portions of the hood l0 and are cll'ectively joined or connected thereto as by soldering, welding or other suitable process. The op posite sides of the hood l0 terminate at points above the lateral feet upon the opposite extremities of the supporting legs 11 and consequently thereupon, air intaking or inlet ways are provided for the hood 10, whereby fresh air will be caused to pass therethrough and upwardly through the air circulating chamber formed by the spacing of the hood 10 from the adjacent walls of the furnace 3 as is shown in the Figure 3; the top or upper portion of said hood 10 being formed with a series of heated air outlet or discharge perforations generally indicated by the numeral 13, whereby, with heating of the air circulating through the interior of the hood 10, such air may be caused to evenly and uniformly discharge into the interior of the drying structure.

It is preferable that the hood 10 over the furnace 3 shall be so arranged as to permit access to be had to the firing door M thereof and thus, if desired said hood 10 may be liushly engaged with the wall of the drying structure 1 as is shown in the Figure 1, whereupon a door may be formed in said wall and communicating with the interior of the hood 10 in order that the necessary access may be had to the firing door 14 of the furnace 3. Other forms or means for providing access to the furnace 3 may of course be substituted, such as may be required in the specific adaption of the invention to those forms of drying apparatus now prevalent in-this particular art.

\Ve furthermore desire to emphasize the fact that the particular cross sectional shape or configuration of the hoods 6 and 10 may be varied, that is, these hoods may be angular or may be curved, according to the peculiar requirements of each installation of the air distributing and discharging means in so long as such hoods are constructed in a manner to provide a continuous and uninterrupted air circulating chamber over an equipped drying of and in so long as such hoods permit of the intaking of fresh supplies of air to the interiors thereof, together with the provision of air discharge ways or perforations whereby the heated air within the hoods 6 and 10 may be evenly and uniformly discharge rl therefrom into the interior of a drying structure.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of our furnace and the fines theretively spaced sup claims, we consider within the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In adrying structure the combination with a drying furnace and flues therefor, a continuous hood of sheet like bodies shaped to envelope the up r and side rtions of said furnace and ues, a lurahty of relarti'ng; egs embracingly engaging said hoo for supporting the same in spaced relation to and over said furnace and flues to provide an aircirculating space therebetween, the opposite sides of said hood being spaced from the extremities of said supporting legs to provide air inlet ways adjacent the lower portions of the furnace and its flues, and the upper portion of said hood having a plurality of evenly distributed air outlet ways formed therein.

2. In a drying structure the combination with a drying-furnace and flues therefor, a continuous hood of sheet like bodies shaped to envelope the up r and side portions of said furnace and lies, a lurahty of relatively spaced and substantially inverted U- shaped supporting legearranged over and spacing the same away from the furnace and its flues, the opposite and lower sides of said hood being spaced from the extremities ofsaid supporting legs to provide air inlet ways communicating with the space between the hood and the furnace and its flues, and the upper portion of said hood havin l distributed air discharge ways tlerein.

3. A device of the character described comprising a sheet like body bent upon itself to rovide an envelo ing means having top an side portions, t e top portion of said body having evenly distributed air discharge ways formed therein, and a. plurality of rela- 'tively spaced strips arranged transversely over and engaging the top and side portions of said body, the opposed extremities of said strips projecting beyond the side and lower portion of the body for supporting the same to rovide air inlet spaces therefor.

Iii witness whereof wehave hereunto set our hands.

ZACHARY T. KQONGE. SAMUEL -M. MALLISON.

ormed' even 

